Kristin Chenoweth Launches New Saks 5th Avenue Holiday Windows Tonight

Saks Fifth Avenue is working with Microsoft to combine fashion and technology to deliver the ultimate holiday treat on November 23-- the sixth annual Snowflake Spectacular and iconic window unveiling at Saks Fifth Avenue's New York Flagship. With Microsoft's latest version of its operating system, Windows 7, powering the holiday window displays, Saks is engaging customers young and old in a new way this holiday season.

To celebrate the unveiling, Kristin Chenoweth, who will grace Broadway again in the spring for a revival of Promises, Promises, will join Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO of Saks Fifth Avenue and Kathleen Hall, general manager of Windows 7 marketing at Microsoft Corp., to light up the night at 6:30 p.m.

Prior to the window unveiling, guests will be entertained on Fifth Avenue with a special performance beginning at 6 p.m. by the PS 22 Chorus, the Staten Island elementary school choir that has earned national fame and a celebrity following from their enthusiastic renderings of popular music.

According to Sadove, "Saks believes the holidays are about magic and the excitement of creating memories. A trip to Saks during the holidays has long been a New York tradition and this year, our customers will be delighted by a new and interactive holiday experience, inspired by Saks and powered by Windows 7."

Every year since 1949, Saks Fifth Avenue's world famous holiday windows have delighted children and adults alike, and this year will be no exception. Windows Will Power the unique displays and 3-D animations behind Saks Fifth Avenue's holiday windows to tell the story of Saks's holiday children's book Twinkle, Twinkle Little Flake, the story of a snowflake named Twinkle. Twinkle fears the fall down to earth because she doesn't know where she will land. After a friend reassures her that not knowing is what makes the journey exciting, Twinkle leaves home and embarks on a wild adventure through New York.

"The best holiday traditions are the simple ones," Hall said. "We are thrilled to be working with Saks Fifth Avenue to bring a 60-year old tradition to life through Windows 7 and celebrating the simple things that make this time of year special."

Just as Saks Fifth Avenue enables customers to find their personal style, Windows 7 gives customers the ability to personalize their PC experience. The new operating system allows people to get the most out of computers of all styles and sizes and delivers on a simple premise: make it easier for people to do the things they want on a PC.

The windows will showcase several of the book's most vibrant scenes, animating the story through over 20 synced video monitors, all provided by and powered by Microsoft's latest version of its operating system, Windows 7. The windows will feature custom 3-D animations, and a voiceover of Twinkle audible to passerby outside. In addition, the windows will be truly interactive this year, as Saks customers have the opportunity to share their holiday wishes via Twitter in some of the windows along 50th.

"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Flake is a heartwarming tale of adventure and bravery that is sure to enchant both adults and children," says Terron Schaefer, Saks Fifth Avenue's Group Senior Vice President of Creative & Marketing. "Windows 7 and Saks Fifth Avenue are bringing Twinkle's story to life and capturing its spirit in the legendary windows through unprecedented detail and technology."

The facade of Saks Fifth Avenue's New York Flagship will once again delight visitors with its brilliantly illuminated light show, choreographed to a modern version of "Carol of the Bells" and featuring 72,000 energy efficient lights and 50 decorative snowflakes reaching 10 stories high. Additionally, Fifth Avenue shoppers will enjoy encore performances every evening throughout the month of December.

In addition to the holiday windows, Saks and Windows 7 have worked together to create interactive in-store experience lounges exclusively for Saks Fifth Avenue New York Flagship shoppers. On 8 and 9, specially constructed lounges will house Windows 7-based PCs where customers can experience Windows 7 first hand on new PCs and ask Microsoft experts questions about both the hardware and software features. Customers will also be able to enter their holiday wishes from the new PCs in order to have them appear in the windows along 50th via Twitter and the hashtag #holidaywindows.

Customers shopping Saks Fifth Avenue this holiday will find merchandise that offers exceptional value at a range of pricepoints, along with many exclusives and items that give back, including Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Flake. Saks will donate $2 from every book sold at its Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and online nationwide to the 2009 Thanks and Giving® campaign, in support of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®. To date, Saks has helped raise over one million dollars for St. Jude and looks forward to growing that number this year.

About Thanks and Giving®

The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® Thanks and Giving® campaign is an unprecedented union of celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners that asks consumers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." Thanks and Giving® was created in 2004 by Marlo Thomas and her siblings Terre and Tony Thomas, children of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. Funds raised by the campaign support the lifesaving work of St. Jude: to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. In November and December, consumers nationwide are asked to shop with companies that display the Thanks and Giving® magnifying glass and add a donation at the register or purchase specialty items that benefit St. Jude; donate online at www.stjude.org, where a complete list of fundraising partners is available; or call 1-800-4STJUDE.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, TN, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.

About Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's preeminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 53 full-line stores in 25 states, 5 licensed stores in the Middle East and 1 licensed store in Mexico City, 55 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company's online store.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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